Diane James Vladimir Putin headlines are great for Ukip, says exec member Elizabeth Jones

Controversy is a lifeblood of Ukip and is essential to the party's growth strategy, says a member of the party's National Executive.

Elizabeth Jones welcomed the headlines which have surrounded the party's new leader, Diane James, and suggested the controversy resulting from her previous comments about Vladimir Putin will play into Ukip's hands.

James, who was elected Ukip's new leader last week, has courted plenty of criticism for saying she admires Putin, as well as Margaret Thatcher. But Jones told talkRADIO's Sam Delaney "controversy is Ukip. It's given her [James] a lot of attention early on in her leadership.

"We are a small party, we have consistently hit the headlines," she added. "We're a small party and this is how we get traction through the media."